Inhaler



Dec. 18, 1951 1 M, CAC-3El 2,579,362

INHALER Filed 001,. 31, 1946 Ill/,lllll IllllllIl/l Patented Dec. 18, 1951 y UNIrlso srrss PATENT orFlcE INHALER John M. Cage, Upper Montclair, N. J Y Application October 31, 1946, Serial No. 706,911

4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-486).-

This invention relates generally to aspiratory devices and more particularly to an improved inhaler, suitable for oral or nasal inhalation.

Among the objects of the present invention lies the provision of an inhaler whichr may be carried in the purse or pocket of the user without the contents thereof leaking out.

Another object herein lies in the provision of an inhaler which may be constructed of a plurality of molded parts so that the device may be quickly and easily assembled in the course of the manufacture thereof and may be readily disassembled and reassembled for the purpose of cleaning the same.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the class described which is relatively compact so that the same may be constantly carried in purse or pocket without causing undesirable bulk anddistortion.

A still further object herein lies in the provision of a device of the class described which isv highly eliicient in the atomizing or conversion to vapor of liquid contents therein, so that relatively less physical effort or air volume is necessary to produce the desired Vtherapeutic effect in they use thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a nose or mouth inhalerin which relatively high turbulence of the liquid contents of the inhaler is produced, thereby promoting efcient vaporization or atomization of the contents.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described which is capable of large scale high speed production resulting in economical manufacture with a consequent wide sale and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that even withthe capA removed if the inhaler is accidentally inverted the likelihood of the liquid contents spilling therefrom is remote.

These` objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and .be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an inhaler constructed vin accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational View of the cap.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the aspirator element.

' Figure 4 `is an elevational view of the vunion element.

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the base..

2 Figures 4 and 5v represent an exploded View of the device 'shown in Figure l.

Figure 6 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 5-6 on Fig.- ure 9.

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 'I-1 on' Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 8--8 on Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional View as seen from the plane 9 9 on Figure 6, with the liquid contents removed.

In accordance with the invention the inhaler generally indicated by numeral 'I (l may be of any desired size. I have found that when the parts are of the size shown in Figures Jl to 5 inclusive that a satisfactory and commercially useful article is produced.

The inhaler l0 consists of four separate elements, a cap element l I, an aspirator element I2, a union element I3 and a base I4. The base I4 is a hollow tank or vessel of elongated cup shape (with a central longitudinal axis 3 indicated by the dash double dot `line on Figure 6) having a bottom wall I5, a lower cylindrical side wall I6 and an upper side wall I'I. The upper cylindrical side wall I1 preferably tapers slightly outwardly toward the upper edges I8. IY have found 1 or more taper to be satisfactory. The lowermost surface of the bottom wall I5 is preferably upwardly curved toward the center to provide greater stability when the inhaler It is set upon a surface (not shown) for the purpose cf filling or storage.

The union element I3 includes a cylindrical lower side wall 22, an upper cylindrical side Wall 23, and a peripheral flange 9 disposed therebetween. The union element I3 also includes an inner cylinder 2d having a central longitudinal axis 25, a top wall 2&5 and a pair of upwardly extending aspirator eleinent engaging members 21 and 28. The lowermost edge 29 of the lower cylindrical side-wall 22, the uppermost edge 3Q of the upper cylindrical side Wall 23 and the upper-v most edges 3l and 32 of lthe elements 2l and 2,8 are preferably sharp as shown.

The inner surface 33 of the lower and upper cylindrical side walls V22 and 23, and the outermost surfaces 34 of the inner cylinder 211 preferably taper upwardly toward each other as best seen in Figure 6.

The inner surface 36 of the cylinder 24 tapers inwardly and downwardly toward thelower end thereof so that the so-called exitopening 3l of the. cylinder 24 is narrower than the sof-called entrance opening 38. Furthermore the inner surface 36 is generally circular in cross section, with the exception of the eccentric groove or depression 40 which extends about half way up the bore formed by surface 36. Notwithstanding the groove 40, the longitudinal axis 25 of the bore, formed by the surface 36 is eccentric, leading downwardly and outwardly in a direction substantially 180 opposite to the direction of the eccentricity of the groove 40.

The upper portion of the groove 40 tapers upwardly toward the normal level of the surface 36 forming an inclined surface 4I lying in the bottom of the groove and a pair of juxtaposed groove side walls 6 and 1.

The aspirator element includes a tube 43 the upper end of which is connected to ay hollow frusto-conical tip or nozzle 44. The tube extends from the upper or exit end 45 down to the lower or entrance end 46. The inner surface 41 and the outer surface 48 are preferably smooth and the cross section of the tube 43 at any point is preferably circular. 'Ihe lowermost portions of the outer surface 48 are preferably rounded as indicated by numeral 49. The purpose of this rounding is to facilitate the entrance of the tube 43 into the bore 36. The upper or exit end 45 has the edges thereof tapered as indicated by numeral 50 to avoid damage to the oral or nasal tissues when the device is in use.

The upper portion of the nozzle 44 is frusto conical in external configuration while the lower portion 52 thereof is slightly outwardly flared or tapered preferably 2. The lower edge 53 of the lower portion 52 is preferably provided with a pair of oppositely disposed indentations or slots 54 and 55 which are preferably of a width equal to the spacing between the opposed ends of the aspirator engaging elements 21 and 28.

Disposed upon the inner surface of the aspirator element I 2 are a pair of juxtaposed protuberances 10 and 1I. These protuberances are located above the indentations 54 and 55 respectively and are adapted to engage within the spaces between the opposed ends of the aspirator engaging elements 21 and 28. This construction assures the alignment of the indentations 54 and 55 with the spaces between the 0pposed ends of the elements 21 and 28 so that the proper air passage is obtained.

The tube 43 is composed of resilient material or the entire aspirator element I2 may be composed of resilient material. The degree of ilexibility of the resilient material of which the aspirator I2 is composed may be of relatively low order since the movement of the parts in normal operation need be of corresponding low order.

Alternately the tube 43 may be permanently deformed to correspond to its axial deflection as assembled.

vThe cap element II acts as a hood or sheath for the exposed portions of the aspirator element I2 and includes a. top wall 56, a frustoconical upper side wall 51, an inner cylindrical side wall 58 and a bottom edge 59. The internal conguration of the cap element Il may correspond substantially to the external configuration of the parts which it encloses, as best seen in Figure 6, while the cylindrical wall 58 may have a slight downward and outward taper, say of 2.

Assembly and operation Assuming the parts to have been previously completed, the device may be assembled as follows: the base I4 may be lled with any desired liquid such as the liquid 66 until the upper level 6I of the liquid coincides with desired point.

Next the union element I3 is preferably grasped by holding the peripheral flange 9 and the lowermost edge 29 is inserted into the upper opening of the base I4. The external diameter of the lower cylindrical side wall 22 and the inner diameter of the upper side wall I1 as well as the slight taper `thereof permit the union element I3 to be inserted into the base I4 until the flange 9 contacts the edge I8, the parts being interengaged to form a substantially leak proof seal thereat.

Following this, the aspirator element I2 is lowered into the union element I3 by inserting the tube 43 into the inner cylinder 24, and simultaneously the lower portion 52 is placed downwardly over the aspirator engaging elements 21 and 28. In the operation just described the rounded portion 4S ofthe lower end 46 of the tube 43 strikes against the upper edges of the groove 4l] (the junctures of the groove side Walls 6 and 1 and the adjoining portions of the surface 36) and becomes deflected toward the opposite wall of the inner cylinder 24. Following this the upper edges 3l and 32 of the elements 21 and 28 enter the element I2 resulting in the seating of the lower portion 52 thereat. The lower portion 5?. is pushed downwardly until the lowermost edge 53 thereof abuts against the upper surface 30 of the top wall 26. The parts if not previously so arranged are rotated until the slots 54 and 55 are in alignment with the spaces between the elements 21 and 28 so that the protuberances 10 and 1I may seat. The tube 43 having been deflected, it is displaced to the right as seen in Figure 6. The purpose of this align-- ment is to form an adequate passage for air entering the device in use, said air traveling through the clearance between the surface 48 and the surface 36 at the upper portion of the cylinder 24 and between the groove side walls 6 and 1 :it the lower portion of the cylinder 24.

The cap element Il is put in place by lowering the lower edge 59 thereof upon the upper cylindrical side wall 23 and this operation is facilitated by a slightly outward taper or flare of the lower portion of the cap. In its seated position the edge 59 abuts against the upper surface of the flange 9.

In use, it is primarily only necessary to remove the cap II and-to place the end 45 of the nozzle 44 into the users nostril or mouth, as the case may be, and to inhale. This inhaling causes a reduction of air pressure within the device, in the chamber formed above the liquid 6G. In Jrder to balance this air pressure here the air at atmospheric pressure enters into the slots 54 and v 55, thence between the aspirator engaging elements 21 .and Z8, and thence down between the inner surface of the bore 36 of the cylinder 34 and outer surface 48 of the tube 43. By reason of the fact that the tube 43 is eccentrically disposed with relation to the inner surface 3E of the cylinder 24 and by reason of the eccentric position of the groove 4|), this forms a definite channel or passage for the flow of air into the chamber within the device I0 which is in the form of a jet which is also eccentric with relation to the axis 25. Since the inhalation causes a relatively constant exit of air from the chamber within the device the incoming air in seeking to reach an equilibrium of pressure enters at relatively high speed with a swirling motion. The velocity of this incoming air into the chamber above the lil', liquid 60 causes the liquid 60 to become highly agitated. This agitation of the liquid 60 causes it to intimately mingle lwith the highly turbulent air within said chamber causing the vaporization or atcmization of said liquid. The air now highly saturated with the liquid material both in the form of invisible vapor and minute droplets travels up the inside of the tube 43 in the form of an extremely ne mist. In this form the mist is readily received by the mucous membranes ci the nose or mouth, as the case may be and may be carried into the lungs. As will be obvious to those skilled in the artgto which the present invention relates, the liquid S may be any suitable constituents depending`-gupon the therapeutic eifect desired.

In View of the relatively large size of the cha-- ber formed above the liquid 60 and of its shape, and of the substantially central position of the opening in the entrance end of the tube Q3 at 4t (see Figures 1 and 8) with respect to the chamber, it will become apparent that even with the cap removed the device I0 may be laid upon its side andthe liquid B0 will then lie up Within the union element but the'upper level of the liquid will not reach into the Ventrance end 46 and the tube 24. When the device l0 is completely inverted (this may be visualized by inverting Fig. 6) the liquid 60 will lie against the surfaces 33 and 34 and will not be high enough to enter the opening at 4B.

By reversing the steps described above it becomes a simple matter to completely disniantle the device for cleaning and sterilization.

It may thus be seen that I have disclosed a novel and useful inhaler which is highly efficient in operation, and by reason of the novel structure and arrangement of the parts consistent operation is obtained even when the device is used with liquids of low volatility and when the differences in air pressure at the entrance ports formed by the slots 54 and 55 and the exit end 45 of the nozzle 44 are of 10W order.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modiiications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An inhaler comprising: a hollow base adapted to contain a liquid; a partial closure for said base having an opening therein; a nozzle including a tube depending therefrom said nozzle engaging said closure and said tube penetrating said opening and incompletely filling said opening, providing an air passage between the outer surface of said tube and the edge of said opening; and means eccentrically positioning said tube with relation to the axis of said opening; said means including an element disposed within than said opening; and means connecting to .Y

said chamber and eccentrically disposedwith respect to the axis of said opening, to deflect said tube laterally with respect to the normal axis s 0f said tube; whereby air withdrawn through said nozzle passes outwardly of the inhaler through said tube and leaves said chamber eccentrically with relation to the axis of said chamber causing agitation of said liquid and the intermingling of the particles of said'liquid in said air and the transportation of said particles of the air as it passes through said tube and out through said nozzle.

3. An inhaler comprising: a chamber adapted to be partially lled with a liquid, said chamber having an opening; means including a hollow cylinder connected to said chamber and communicating with said opening; a nozzle having a depending exible tube, said nozzle being engageable with said chamber, said tube being disposed within said means; said tube being of smaller cross sectional size than said opening; said means being adjusted and arranged to laterally deflect said flexible tube from its normal axis.

4. Structure as claimed in claim 3 in which a chamber is adapted to be partially filled with a liquid, said chamber having an opening; means including a hollow cylinder connected to said chamber and communicating with said opening; a nozzle having a depending flexible tube, said nozzle being engageable with said chamber, said tube being disposed within said means; said tube being of smaller cross sectional size than said opening; said means having a groove and being adjusted and arranged to laterally deilect said flexible tube from its normal axis.

JOHN M. CAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 260,505 Studley July 4, 1882 821,389 Wells May 22, 1906 2,259,759 Lufkin Oct. 21, 1941 

